Window construction



Feb. 17, 1953 A.1M. STARCK 2,628,390

wmoow CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 25, 1949 INVENTOR flemz/eMJmec/c I BY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE"QZ WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Arthur M. Starck, Norwalk, 'Conn.

' .Appli'cation Augu's't25, 1949, ser1a 1N6. 1 12,'264' This invention relates generallyto improvements in window constructions, and pertains more particularly to windows of the sliding sash type wherein the sashes, mounted ior vertical movement, -are counterbalanced by coil springs.

. When coil springs are used to balance window sashes, the balancing action may be. the result either of turning the spring, or of stretching the spring. This invention will be described with particular reference tothe former, but, as will be apparent, may, be used with either type of coil spring balance. Y i

Balancing action through turning the coil spring is accomplished by attaching one end of the coil spring to the window frame so that it cannot turn, and by causing the other end of the spring to turn as the sash is raised or lowered, as by means of a spiral rod which slidably engages a slot in the free end of the spring and is securedat one end tothe sash Such a balance is disclosed in the Larson Patent No. 1,864,745, June 28, 1932, wherein the spiral rod secured to the window sash is given an accelerated pitch'so as to'provid-e substantially equal balancing efiect for all positions of the sash. H V v e In the construction-disclosed in the.Larson patent, recesses are provided in the side edges of thesashes to receive the coil springs, which are secured at their upper ends to the side jambs of the frame. This is the usual arrangement for coil spring balances. The spring for the inner, or lower, sash will be visible when this sash is in its lowered, or closed -position, and the spring for the upper sash will become visible as this sash is lowered, or-opened. While this location of the springs does not in any way interfere with the operation of the sash balances, or with raising and lowering the sashes, it may make the installation of certain types of weather. stripping more vdifiic-u'lt, and may be considered by some individuals to detract from the appearance of the window.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window [construction in which it will be unnecessary to groove the side edges of the sashes to receive the balancing springs, thus permitting use of any of the known types of weather stripping on the side edges. It is :a further object of the invention to provide a window construction in which the spring balances are enclosed and concealed within the, beads or strips forming the sash slides, thus simplifying and improvin-g'the appearance of the window. It is also an object of the invention to provide a window construction in which the balances for both I 2 the upper and lower sashes of adouble-hung window maybe located and-concealed within the parting beads between the two'sashes.' other object of the invention is'to provi'de'im proved means for connecting a coil spring balance to a window sash. Further objects and ad vantages of the inventionwill appear as the-de scription proceeds.

A preferred embodiment of the'invention se lected for purposes of illustration/and description is shown in the accompanying drawings. wherein: 3 Figure 1 isa perspective view showing the com: bined parting bead and dual'sash balance, fragmentary portions of the window frame and sashes being indicated to disclose the relation of the: parts; Figure. 2 is a transverse sectional view through" the structure of Figure 1, looking down on the top of the S-shapedmember |1;. I

Figure 3'is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified arrangement for connecting the balances to the window sashes; and' j Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views to somewhat smaller scale, and from difierent angles, of the sash attachment means shown in Figure 3;

Referring to Figure 1, ll represents one-"side jamb of a window frame for double-hung sash, 12 represents the inner bead, and [3 the outer bead. The upper sash is indicated, 'in' fully raised position, at [-4, and the lower sash, par tially raised, at L5. The constructionth-us far conventional and'further des'cription thereoffis believed unnecessary. j The combined-parting bead and ,isash balance illustrated" in igure 'pref-erablywill Qbeydripliciated on the opposite side of the window frame.- H

In place of the usual solid parting bead which separates the upper and lower sashes, place of the sash balances recessed in the side edges of the sashes, or in the side jambs oith e frame, the present invention provides a combined parting bead and dual sash balance, the parting bead being made of sheet metal and enclosing and concealing coil spring balances for both the upper and lower sashes. This end may be at-. tained with no increase in the size of theparting bead as compared to the solid parting bead of the priorconstructions Y The combined pa ing bBad an-d sash balance housing of the present invention has an elon-Q chambers with the narrow openings therefrom facing in opposite directions. The channel members [6 and I! ordinarily will be made of sheet metal and may be formed into shape in. suitable manner, as by rolling.

In the illustrative embodiment, the upper channel member I6 is rectangular in shape and the edges of the metal strip from which the channel is made preferably extend in substan-- tially abutting relation-along the center of one of the narrow sides or edges of the member. Preferably the member It has the same dimensions as the solid wood parting bead which it replaces, so that one edge thereof, preferably the slotted edge, can be pressed into the groove in the side jamb I I, just as would the solid parting bead, and

without the necessity of any change inthe irame construction. This is shown in Figure 1.

the metal strip when the rectangular channel is formed; then when the channel member is pressed i'n't'oithe' groove in the side jamb II, the springiness of'th'e metal will cause the edges of the channel m'embe'r'to be pressedfirmly against the side waus of the" groove and will hold the member securely in place in the groove in the side j'arhb'.

, Theupperend of the channel member is may be secured place also by means of a screw or" nail [8 extending through the Walls of the" channel intt) the Side jaIh'b' l'l. Ordinarily it will not be necessary to further anchor thelower end of the-channel member It, because this will be prevented fitiiii' ieavmg" the groove by the screw orlna'il l8, and also by the customary interlocking relation of the bottom rail of the upper sash and the top rail of the lower sash against the parting bead, as indicated at [9 and 26, respectively.

Located withinthe channel member l6 are two parallelcoil springs 2i and 22,.preferably approximately co-extensive in length with the member Hi. These are the springs for balancing the upper and lower sashes respectively. The upper ends of these coil springs are secured against rotation within the channel inen' iber l6 and convenientl y this may be done by applying bushings or caps 23, 2'4 to the upperends' of the springs, and by providing these bushings or caps with transverse openings through which the screw or nail l-8 passes.

The lower ends of the coil springs also are provided with bushings 25 and 26, each having? a center slot to receive the twisted or spiral rods" Z1 and- Z B reSpectiveIys will appearher'ein after, the lower ends of the spiral rods are connected -to the lower-portions o'f'the' upper and lower sashes respectively, so that asa sash 'is raised or lowered, the spiral rod, moving'with the sash; will rotate the lower end'of the associated coil spring. The coil spring will be twisted'tig'hter as the sash is lowered, thus tending to lift the and the tension iii the spring Will be re-' lie v'ed'as the sash is raised;

2 Thelower' ends of the spiral rods 21, 28 are located within the lower, or S-sh'aped, member I51. The over-all dimensions of the member [1, iii a transverse section, preferably are the same as those of the channel member [6, so that one edge (if the member I! will fit snugly in the g'ro'ove'in the side jamb II of the window frame. is means that, in the illustrative embodiment, a'tiansverse section through the member I! will be approxunateiy rectangular in shape, and that tries-shaped member [1' Will have two similar,

.4 parallel tubular chambers into which the spiral rods 21 and 28 can move as their respective sashes are lowered.

The upper part of the S-shaped member l1 will be held in position in the groove by the interlocking action of the sash rails in the same manner that the lower part of the channelshaped member I6 is held in the groove. If the S-shaped member I! has areasonably close fit in the groove, little more will be r'eq'uiredto hold the member in place. However, the lower end of the S-shaped channel may be secured firmly in the groove by screw or nail extending directly through the walls of the member into the side jamb, or through a block or bracket secured on one'side ofthe' S -shaped member.

In-double=hung windows, that is windows in which there are two sashes mounted for sliding movement vertically past each other, the vertical dimension of the upper sash often is les than that of the lower sash.- Inthat event the downward" m-ovement'of the upper' sash must be limited in order to prevent pulling the spiral rod 2=T out 'of'the end of the coil spring 2 I. Convenient ly this will be done by fastening a block or'o'th'er' stop in the lower part of the sash slide. In'Fi'gure 1, such a block is shown at 3'3.

A lipor fiange 3cmaybe turnedoutfrom' the lower end ofthe S-sh'a'ped member IT, as shown in Figures- 1 and 2,;to' lie against the block 33' when the member IT is pressed into place inits" groove. Screws or nails 35 can be used t'o-s'ec'ure the flange 24- to the blockgor' to secure both the flange and the block to the side jam-b. I

Secured to the lower end of each of the spiral rods 21, 28, as by means of a rivet, is one end of a connecting link which extends outwardly through the narrow opening in the side wall of the S-shap'ed member ll. In Figure 2 of the application drawings, these connecting links are- The connecting links 29; 30 may be" secured" directly to the sashes. For that purpose, the ex posed portions of the links" may be made in the form of small plates which'are pierced with holes to receive screws. The plate 3|, on the outer end of link 29, is secured against the bottom of the upper sash I4 by screws, and the plate 32, on the outer end of 'link 30, is similarly secured against the bottom of the lower sash l5. Shallow re cesses may be cut in the sash rails to receive these plates for flush mounting.

By'the construction hereinab'ove described, applic'ant has provided a combined parting bead and dual sash balance for double-hung windows, the sash balances for both the upper and lower sashes being contained and concealed within the parting bead. The side edges of the sashes and the opposed surfaces of the side jambs are left free for the application of weather stripping.

The combined partingbead' and sash balancehousing as described may be used also withbalances which depend on the stretching of a coil spring. In such a construction there will be no spiral rods 21 and28, and the connecting links 29 and 30 will be secured directly to the lower ends of the coil springs 2| and 22, respectively.

If the connecting links 29, 3|] are secured rigidly to the sashes in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2, slight movement of the sashes horizontally, in the planes thereof, may result in a binding of the connecting links" against the walls of the" S-shaped member I]. In fitting a sash in a frame, a certain amount of play is allowed to prevent binding of the sash in the slides as the sash is raised or lowered. If there is subsequent shrinkage, the possibility of horizontal movement of the sash while being raised or lowered is increased. The longitudinally extending openings on opposite sides of the S-shaped member I! can be kept narrow, and at the same time the danger of binding of the connecting links can be eliminated by attaching the connecting links to the sashes in such a manner that the sashes have a limited freedom of movement relative to the connecting links, horizontally in the planes of the sashes.

Figures 3 through 5 illustrate connecting means which permits such movement of the sashes relative to the connecting links. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, except for the modified connecting means, and similar parts bear the same reference numbers.

The connecting links 3'! and 38 may be made from relatively narrow strips of metal. The outer end 39 of the connecting link 3! is bent back to form an angle of about 45 with that portion of the link which is connected to the spiral rod 27. The outer end 40 of the connecting link 38 is bent to an angle of about 135 with that portion of the link which is connected to the spiral rod 28. As may be seen in Figure 3, these portions 39 and MB of the connecting links lie parallel to the planes of the window sashes.

Mounted in small recesses cut in the bottom edges of the lower rails of the sashes l6 and I5 are sockets 4| and 42 for slidably engaging the portions 39 and 40 of the connecting links. These sockets may be similar for both sashes, and may be made from sheet metal.

As may be seen from Figures 4 and 5, a socket such as is illustrated can be made from a rectangular piece of sheet metal. One edge of the metal is folded over as shown at 45, thus providing an open slot to receive an end portion 39, 40 of one of the connecting links. One or more flanges 4-6 are turned in the opposite direction from the opposite edge of the metal piece for securing the socket in its recess in the bottom edge of the sash rail. These flanges 46 have holes therethrough to receive screws or nails for securing the sockets to the rails.

Another portion 4'! of the edge from which the flanges '46 are formed may be folded over, after the end 39 or 4B of a connecting link has been laid in the slot under the edge 45, to hold the end of the connecting link in the socket. While this edge portion 47 holds the connecting link end firmly in the socket as far as vertical movement of the sash is concerned, it is not folded down tightly on the link end so as to prevent sliding movement of the link horizontally relative to the socket.

Thus the sash is free to move horizontally, in the plane of the sash, and the socket slides on the connecting link end without interfering in any way with the operation of the sash balance, and without danger that the connecting link will bind in the narrow opening of the S-shaped member H.

The invention herein disclosed may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a window structure comprising a frame and two sashes mounted therein for sliding movement vertically past each other, in combination,

of the coil springs to secure the channel-shaped member to the frame and to secure the upper ends of the coil springs against rotation within the channel-shaped member, the said lower member having similar over-all dimensions to the upper member and being S-shaped in transverse section with relatively narrow, longitudinally extending openings into the two tubular chambersthus formed, each such chamber-con taining a spiral rod which slidably engages-a slotin the lower end of one of the aforesaid-coil springs to turn the end of the spring as the spiral rod is moved into or out of the springs; connecting link attached to the lower end of each spiral rod and extendin laterally outwardly through the narrow opening in the S-shaped member, and means connecting each said link to the lower portion of one of the sashes.

2. In a window structure having a frame; beads forming sash slides therein, sashesmounted for vertical movement past each other in said sash slides, and sash balancing means for supporting the sashes in adjusted positions in said sash slides, in combination, a combined parting bead and sash balance housing comprising anelongated channel-shaped member which serves as the upper part of the parting bead and as a' common enclosure for the upper portions of sash balances for both the upper and lower sashes, an elongated S-shaped member of similar over-all dimensions which serves as the lower part of the parting bead and provides individual tubular enclosures for the lower portions of the sash balances, and connecting links extendin laterally from the sash balances outwardly of the S- shaped member for connections to the upper and lower sashes, respectively.

3. The combination with a window frame having side jambs and two sashes mounted therein for sliding movement past each other, of hollow parting beads secured to the side jambs between the side edges of said sashes, each parting bead comprising an elongated channel-shaped upper member containing the upper ends of two coil spring sash balances, and an elongated S-shaped lower member aligned with the channel-shaped member and having two narrow vertical openings facing in opposite directions, one toward each sash, connecting links extending from the sash balances outwardly through said narrow vertical openings in the parting bead and slidable vertically therein, and socket means secured on said sashes which slidably engage the connecting links, permitting limited movement of the sashes relative to the sash balances, horizontally in the planes of the sashes.

4. A combined parting bead and sash balance housing for a window having two sashes mounted for sliding movement vertically past each other, comprising, in combination, aligned upper and lower elongated members which together form a parting bead separating side edges of the upper and lower sashes, the upper member being channel-shaped and containing two elongated coil springs arranged side byside and secured at their upper ends against rotation within the channelshaped member, the lower member having similar over-all dimensions to the upper member and being si-sliape'd-in section, each of thetwoselongated tubular chambers formed within the S- shaped section containing a spiral rod which slidablyengages aslot in the lower end of one of the aforesaidcoil springs, and a connecting link attached to the lower end ofeach spiral rod and extendinglaterally outwardly from the S shaped channel for connection to a window sash. A combined parting bead and sash balance housing for a window having two sashes mounted for sliding movement vertically past each other, comprising, in combination, aligned upper and lower elongated members which together form aparting bead separating side edges of the upper andlower sashes, the upper member being channeleshaped to provide a common enclosure for the upper portions of I the balances for both sashes,.the lower member having similar over-all dimensions to the upper member and being S- shapedin section to provide individual elongated enclosures having relatively narrow, longitudinally extending openings for the lower portions of thesash balances, and individual balances for the sashes comprising two elongated coil springs arranged side by side and secured at their upper ends against rotation within the channel-shaped member, slotted bushings secured on the lower ends of the coil springs, spiral rods slidably engaging the slots in the bushings and extending into the enclosures formed within the S-shaped members, and a connecting link attached to each sash balance and extending laterally outwardly through the narrow longitudinally extending opening in the S-shaped member for connection to a window sash.

6. A combined parting bead and sash balance housing for a window frame having double hung sash comprising, in combination, an elongated 8 channel+shaped uppen-member and an elongated S-shaped lower member of similar transverse dimensions aligned with the'upper member, the S-shaped member having relatively narrow, longitudinally extending openings on opposite sidesthereof.

7. A combined parting bead and sash balance housing for a window frame having doublehungsash comprising, in combination, an elongated channel-shaped upper member and an clon gated S-shaped lower member of similar transverse dimensions aligned with the upper member, the S-shap'ed member having relatively narrow, longitudinally extending openings on opposite sides thereof, two coil spring sash balances see cured at their upper ends within the said channel-shaped member and. extending. downwardlyinto the individual chambers formed by the S-' shaped member, and a connecting link extending laterally from each sash balance outwardly through the longitudinally extending opening inthe S-shaped member for connection to a window sash.

ARTHUR M. STARCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are" of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,383,982 Chaffee July 5, 1921 1,911,469 Rosenwald May 30, 1933 2,010,298 Graf Aug. 6, 1935 2,081,695 Clark 1 May 25, 1937 2,101,577 Gossen ..7 Dec.. 7, 1937 2,188,054 Madsen 1 Jan. 23, 1940 2,306,193 Stephan 1 Dec. 22, 1942- 

